Criteria for Accrediting Computing Programs, 2014-2015

Effective for evaluations during the 2014-2015 accreditation cycle. Incorporates all changes approved by the ABET Board of Directors as of October 26, 2013. Please contact the ABET Accreditation Department if you have questions or need assistance.

Definitions

While ABET recognizes and supports the prerogative of institutions to adopt and use the terminology of their choice, it is necessary for ABET volunteers and staff to have a consistent understanding of terminology. With that purpose in mind, the Commissions will use the following basic definitions:

Program Educational Objectives – Program educational objectives are broad statements that describe what graduates are expected to attain within a few years of graduation. Program educational objectives are based on the needs of the program’s constituencies.

Student Outcomes – Student outcomes describe what students are expected to know and be able to do by the time of graduation. These relate to the knowledge, skills, and behaviors that students acquire as they progress through the program.

Assessment – Assessment is one or more processes that identify, collect, and prepare data to evaluate the attainment of student outcomes. Effective assessment uses relevant direct, indirect, quantitative and qualitative measures as appropriate to the outcome being measured. Appropriate sampling methods may be used as part of an assessment process.

Evaluation – Evaluation is one or more processes for interpreting the data and evidence accumulated through assessment processes. Evaluation determines the extent to which student outcomes are being attained. Evaluation results in decisions and actions regarding program improvement.

The criteria for accreditation are in two sectionsGeneral Criteria – General Criteria apply to all programs accredited by an ABET commission. Each program accredited by an ABET commission must satisfy every Criterion that is in the General Criteria for that commission.Program Criteria – The Program Criteria provide discipline-specific accreditation criteria. Programs must show that they satisfy all of the specific Program Criteria implied by the program title. Any overlapping requirements need be satisfied only once.

I. General Criteria

All programs seeing accreditation from the Computing Accreditation commission of ABET must demonstrate that they satisfy all of the following General Criteria.

General Criterion 1. Students

Student performance must be evaluated. Student progress must be monitored to foster success in attaining student outcomes, thereby enabling graduates to attain program educational objectives. Students must be advised regarding curriculum and career matters.

The program must have and enforce policies for accepting both new and transfer students, awarding appropriate academic credit for courses taken at other institutions, and awarding appropriate academic credit for work in lieu of courses taken at the institution. The program must have and enforce procedures to ensure and document that students who graduate meet all graduation requirements.

General Criterion 2. Program Educational Objectives

The program must have published program educational objectives that are consistent with the mission of the institution, the needs of the program’s various constituencies, and these criteria. There must be a documented, systematically utilized, and effective process, involving program constituencies, for the periodic review of these program educational objectives that ensures they remain consistent with the institutional mission, the program’s constituents’ needs, and these criteria.

General Criterion 3. Student Outcomes

The program must have documented student outcomes that prepare graduates to attain the program educational objectives. There must be a documented and effective process for the periodic review and revision of these student outcomes.

The program must enable students to attain, by the time of graduation:

(a) An ability to apply knowledge of computing and mathematics appropriate to the program’s student outcomes and to the discipline

(b) An ability to analyze a problem, and identify and define the computing requirements appropriate to its solution

(c) An ability to design, implement, and evaluate a computer-based system, process, component, or program to meet desired needs

(d) An ability to function effectively on teams to accomplish a common goal

(e) An understanding of professional, ethical, legal, security and social issues and responsibilities

(f) An ability to communicate effectively with a range of audiences

(g) An ability to analyze the local and global impact of computing on individuals, organizations, and society

(h) Recognition of the need for and an ability to engage in continuing professional development

(i) An ability to use current techniques, skills, and tools necessary for computing practice.

General Criterion 4. Continuous Improvement

The program must regularly use appropriate, documented processes for assessing and evaluating the extent to which the student outcomes are being attained. The results of these evaluations must be systematically utilized as input for the continuous improvement of the program. Other available information may also be used to assist in the continuous improvement of the program.

General Criterion 5. Curriculum

The program’s requirements must be consistent with its program educational objectives and designed in such a way that each of the student outcomes can be attained. The curriculum must combine technical and professional requirements with general education requirements and electives to prepare students for a professional career and further study in the computing discipline associated with the program, and for functioning in modern society.

The technical and professional requirements must include at least one year of up-to-date coverage of fundamental and advanced topics in the computing discipline associated with the program. In addition, the program must include mathematics appropriate to the discipline beyond the pre-calculus level. For each course in the major required of all students, its content, expected performance criteria, and place in the overall program of study must be published.

General Criterion 6. Faculty

Each faculty member teaching in the program must have expertise and educational background consistent with the contributions to the program expected from the faculty member. The competence of faculty members must be demonstrated by such factors as education, professional credentials and certifications, professional experience, ongoing professional development, contributions to the discipline, teaching effectiveness, and communication skills. Collectively, the faculty must have the breadth and depth to cover all curricular areas of the program.

The faculty serving in the program must be of sufficient number to maintain continuity, stability, oversight, student interaction, and advising. The faculty must have sufficient responsibility and authority to improve the program through definition and revision of program educational objectives and student outcomes as well as through the implementation of a program of study that fosters the attainment of student outcomes.

General Criterion 7. Facilities

Classrooms, offices, laboratories, and associated equipment must be adequate to support attainment of the student outcomes and to provide an atmosphere conducive to learning. Modern tools, equipment, computing resources, and laboratories appropriate to the program must be available, accessible, and systematically maintained and upgraded to enable students to attain the student outcomes and to support program needs. Students must be provided appropriate guidance regarding the use of the tools, equipment, computing resources, and laboratories available to the program.

The library services and the computing and information infrastructure must be adequate to support the scholarly and professional activities of the students and faculty.

General Criterion 8. Institutional Support

Institutional support and leadership must be adequate to ensure the quality and continuity of the program.

Resources including institutional services, financial support, and staff (both administrative and technical) provided to the program must be adequate to meet program needs. The resources available to the program must be sufficient to attract, retain, and provide for the continued professional development of a qualified faculty. The resources available to the program must be sufficient to acquire, maintain, and operate infrastructures, facilities and equipment appropriate for the program, and to provide an environment in which student outcomes can be attained.

II. Program Criteria

All programs seeking accreditation from the Computing Accreditation Commission of ABET must demonstrate that they satisfy all of the specific Program Criteria implied by the program title.

Computer Science and Similarly Named Computing Programs

Lead Society: CSAB

These program criteria apply to computing programs using computer science or similar terms in their titles.

Student Outcomes The program must enable students to attain, by the time of graduation:

(j) An ability to apply mathematical foundations, algorithmic principles, and computer science theory in the modeling and design of computer-based systems in a way that demonstrates comprehension of the tradeoffs involved in design choices. [CS]

(k) An ability to apply design and development principles in the construction of software systems of varying complexity. [CS]

Curriculum Students must have the following amounts of course work or equivalent educational experience:

2. An exposure to a variety of programming languages and systems. [CS]

3. Proficiency in at least one higher-level language. [CS]

4. Advanced course work that builds on the fundamental course work to provide depth. [CS]

b. One year of science and mathematics:

1. Mathematics: At least one half year that must include discrete mathematics. The additional mathematics might consist of courses in areas such as calculus, linear algebra, numerical methods, probability, statistics, number theory, geometry, or symbolic logic. [CS]

2. Science: A science component that develops an understanding of the scientific method and provides students with an opportunity to experience this mode of inquiry in courses for science or engineering majors that provide some exposure to laboratory work. [CS]

Faculty Some full time faculty members must have a Ph.D. in computer science.

Information Systems and Similarly Named Computing Programs

Lead Society: CSAB

These program criteria apply to computing programs using information systems or similar terms in their titles.

Student Outcomes The program must enable students to attain, by the time of graduation:

(j) An understanding of processes that support the delivery and management of information systems within a specific application environment. [IS]

Curriculum Students must have course work or an equivalent educational experience that includes:

a. Information Systems: One year that must include:

1. coverage of the fundamentals of a modern programming language, data management, networking and data communications, systems analysis and design and the role of Information Systems in organizations. [IS]

2. advanced course work that builds on the fundamental course work to provide depth. [IS]

b. Information Systems Environment: One-half year of course work that must include varied topics that provide background in an environment in which the information systems will be applied professionally. [IS]

c. Quantitative analysis or methods including statistics. [IS]

Faculty Some full-time faculty, including those responsible for the IS curriculum development, must hold a terminal degree in information systems.

Information Technology and Similarly Named Computing Programs

Lead Society: CSAB

These program criteria apply to computing programs using information technology or similar terms in their titles.

Student OutcomesThe program must enable students to attain, by the time of graduation:

(j) An ability to use and apply current technical concepts and practices in the core information technologies. [IT]

(k) An ability to identify and analyze user needs and take them into account in the selection, creation, evaluation and administration of computer-based systems. [IT] (l) An ability to effectively integrate IT-based solutions into the user environment. [IT] (m) An understanding of best practices and standards and their application. [IT] (n) An ability to assist in the creation of an effective project plan. [IT]

Curriculum Students must have course work or an equivalent educational experience that includes:

b. Advanced course work that builds on the fundamental course work to provide depth. [IT]

PROPOSED CHANGES TO THE CRITERIA

The following section presents proposed changes to these criteria as approved by the ABET Board of Directors on October 26, 2013, for a one-year first reading review and comment period. Comments will be considered until June 15, 2014. The ABET Board of Directors will determine, based on the comments received and on the advice of the CAC, the content of the adopted criteria. The adopted criteria will then become effective following the ABET Board of Directors Meeting in the fall of 2014 and will first be applied by the CAC for accreditation reviews during the 2015-16 academic year.

PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE PROGRAM CRITERIA FOR INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Student OutcomesThe program must enable students to attain, by the time of graduation:

(j) An understanding of processes thatand an ability to support the use, delivery, and management of information systems within a specific applicationan Information Systems environment. [IS]

CurriculumStudents must have course work or an equivalent educational experience that includes:

a. Information Systems: One year that must include:

1. coverage of the fundamentals of a modern programming language, application development, data management, networking and data communications, security of information systems, systems analysis and design and the role of Information Systems in organizations. [IS]

2. advanced course work that builds on the fundamental course work to provide depth. [IS]

b. Information Systems Environment: One-half year of course work that must include varieda cohesive set of topics that provide background inan understanding of an environment in which the information systems will be applied professionally. [IS]

c. Quantitative analysis or methods, including statistics. [IS]

FacultySome full-time faculty members, including those responsible for the IS curriculum development, must hold a terminal degree with a program of study in information systems.

PROPOSED REVISIONS TO THE PROGRAM CRITERIA FOR INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Lead Society: CSAB

Student OutcomesThe program must enable students to attain, by the time of graduation:

(j) An ability to use and apply current technical concepts and practices in the core information technologies of human computer interaction, information management, programming, networking, and web systems and technologies. [IT]

(k) An ability to identify and analyze user needs and take them into account in the selection, creation, evaluation, and administration of computer-based systems. [IT]

(l) An ability to effectively integrate IT-based solutions into the user environment. [IT]

(m) An understanding of best practices and standards and their application. [IT]

(n) An ability to assist in the creation of an effective project plan. [IT]

CurriculumStudents must have course work or an equivalent educational experience that includes: